Romania to Establish Europe's Largest Wilderness Reserve on 100,000 Hectares

In Romania, local biologists and philanthropists have decided to create a "European counterpart to Yellowstone" — the largest privately-owned wilderness reserve on the continent. The project is aimed at preserving 100,000 hectares of untouched nature and promoting the development of eco-tourism to support the local population, as reported by The Guardian.

This reserve will be located in the Făgăraș Mountains in the Transylvania region, in the southeastern part of the Carpathian Mountains. It is considered one of the last remaining wild corners where a variety of wildlife, such as brown bears, wolves, lynx, and more, can be found. Thanks to the work of the Carpathian Conservation Fund (FCC), bison have recently returned to the area after an absence of nearly 200 years.

In 2009, biologists Cristoph and Barbara Promberger, in collaboration with philanthropists and nature conservationists, began fundraising to purchase forests with the goal of halting deforestation and restoring natural territories.

To date, they have acquired 26,900 hectares of forests and pastures and planted over 4 million trees. FCC rangers also patrol an area of 75,000 hectares, leading to the cessation of logging in neighboring forests. Another innovative step was the acquisition of hunting rights for an additional 78,000 hectares to protect the wilderness from poachers and trophy hunters.

In addition to this project, the plan includes engagement with local communities, the creation of new job opportunities, and the gradual attraction of more tourists to the region.

"The idea is to create a park that not only protects the forests and wilderness but also supports local communities in eco-tourism and businesses that contribute to nature conservation," said park manager Rezvan Dumitriț.

Among the tourist offerings of the conservation fund is the 500-hectare biodiversity farm "Kobor." It is located in Tâkush-Vechi, approximately one and a half hours from Brașov. Horse-drawn wagons traverse the roads, and people work with scythes in the fields. Guests of the farm can stay in restored rural cottages, with varying capacities, some accommodating up to 23 people. The farm also breeds Carpathian sheepdogs and provides them to local farmers and shepherds for protection against bears and wolves.

It's worth noting that Romania is also home to one of the most famous "haunted castles," once owned by the local ruler Vlad the Impaler, which can be visited on Halloween.